By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has named his final squad for the two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
South Africa will play its final two group games of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday 10 October and against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on Tuesday 14 October.
The 23-man squad includes eight changes from last qualifiers, with Sydney Mobbie, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Ime Okon, Siyabonga Ngezana, Luke Le Roux, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Patrick Maswanganyi and Mduduzi Shabalala being replaced.
South Africa were docked three points by FIFA, for fielding an ineligible player Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho, who should have been serving a one-game suspension for accumulating yellow cards.
As a result, Bafana Bafana now sit second in group C, level with Benin on 14 points, the latter has better goal difference.
With two qualifiers left to go in the group stage, South Africa will need to win both of their fixtures and overtake Benin or hope the Cheetah’s slip up and drop points in order to secure automatic qualification.
Bafana Bafana Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, Sipho Chaine
Defenders: Malibongwe Khoza, Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndamane, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Thabang Matuludi, Samukelo Kabini, Nkosinathi Sibisi
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Bathusi Aubaas, Thalente Mbatha, Thapelo Morena, Sipho Mbule,Relebohile Mofokeng.
Strikers: Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, Lyle Foster, Tshepang Moremi, Mohau Nkota.